GECs
Star Plus’ Satyamev Jayate to see a few changes, this season
MUMBAI: It was in 2012 when TV audiences woke up to Sunday morning slot once again. Star Plus with Satyamev Jayate at 11 am, tried to bring about a change in our society by bringing the ills gripping our society to the forefront.
The promos of the upcoming season have already gone live and each tells a story of a person who after watching a heart-wrenching episode has gone out to make a change in whatever manner he/she could. One of the promo tells a story of Nazia, who found a sexually-abused girl and went on to help her through Childline – a NGO working for kids. “Nazia is like one of us but through her one action she proved that it is we who can bring about a change,” says the host of the show Aamir Khan while highlighting that this time the focus on promos was not him but on heroes who made a difference. “It is all about possibilities.”
He highlights that the research team never went out to hunt for people like Nazia but while doing their study they met or were told about people who after watching SMJ went out of their way to help others.
In its third installment now, the show, which will go live on 21 September and consists of six episodes, will see a few new elements. The biggest change will be letting the common man talk to Khan. After the one and a half hour show, people can talk ‘live’ to Khan through social media – Facebook and Twitter -, phone or the show’s official website to share their issues on the topic discussed earlier.
“SMJ is about people and we want people to tell their views and issues so that together as a society we can bring about a change,” says Khan who will be travelling across various cities to connect with the people.
He believes that the show has changed him a lot. “I have become more patient and less judgmental,” he says while recalling that years ago when Star India CEO Uday Shankar had approached him for a game show he had made a correct decision by denying that and suggesting a show on social issues.
This time around, for the first time, other actors too will be seen on the show. “It is not for publicity. But only the actors who have done something for a particular issue or feel for it will be on the talk show,” clarifies Khan.
Believing that the change needs to be brought about from the grassroot level to revolutionise people’s mindset, Khan wants people, administrations and governments to make a note of the things. Stating the example of how after the female foeticide episode was aired, the sex ratio between girls and boys has risen, Khan says, “Earlier there were 890 girls per 1000 boys, but today it is 940 which is remarkable. A small step can make a huge difference.”
On a personal level, Khan wants four basic fundamental benefits given to each and every citizen of the country, namely, public health services, education, a quick and fair justice system and security through a strict law and order.
MUMBAI: Lights, camera… connection because this time, the game isn’t just about winning, it’s about who’s with you. Sony Pictures Networks India is gearing up to launch a new reality game show, Tum Ho Naa, expanding its unscripted slate with a format that promises both emotion and engagement.
The show will premiere soon on Sony Entertainment Television and stream on Sony LIV, with Rajeev Khandelwal stepping in as host. Known for his measured screen presence and selective choices, Khandelwal’s return to television adds a layer of familiarity and credibility to the upcoming format.
While specific details of the gameplay remain under wraps, the positioning suggests a reality format that leans as much on emotional resonance as it does on competition, an increasingly popular blend in Indian television, where audiences are gravitating towards content that offers both stakes and storytelling.
Khandelwal, reflecting on his return, noted that his choices have often been guided by instinct rather than convention, describing Tum Ho Naa as a project that feels “close to the heart”. His association also signals Sony’s continued focus on anchoring new formats with recognisable faces who bring both relatability and depth.
The launch comes at a time when broadcasters are doubling down on original non-fiction formats to drive appointment viewing, even as digital platforms expand parallel reach. By placing the show across both linear television and OTT, Sony appears to be aiming for a dual-audience strategy capturing traditional viewers while engaging digital-first consumers.
As the countdown to premiere begins, Tum Ho Naa positions itself not just as another game show, but as a reminder that sometimes, the biggest prize on screen isn’t the jackpot, it’s the journey shared along the way.
